Category: Anatomy
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Comparing the Amniote Egg to the Placenta – Coloring
Color the amniote egg of a chicken and compare to the development of a human embryo.
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Investigation: Two Point Discrimination Test
Students investigate the sensitivity of different areas of the skin using a mathematical compass to stimulate mechanoreceptors. The procedure asks students to place the points of the compass on different areas, such as the forearm and the palm and have a test subject report whether one point is being felt or two points. The compass…
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Data Analysis – Stature and Bone Length
Does the length of a person’s legs and arm bones correlate to the height of the person? The following graph shows a scatterplot of lengths of the humerus, tibia, femur and tibia. Examine the graphs shown below. What CLAIMS can be made to answer the question? Summarize the EVIDENCE shown in the graphs. Develop a…
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Case Study – The Tired Swimmer
This case study was modified from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science so that it is more appropriate for basic high school students in anatomy and physiology. This case is intended to be used during the chapter on muscles as it requires students to examine how the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine is used…
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Explore Anatomy – Color the Bones of the Hand
Learning anatomy can feel daunting, but there are plenty of ways to make it more engaging and interactive. One great way to help students understand the structure of the human hand is through a hands-on (pun intended!) coloring exercise. By coloring the bones of the hand, students can reinforce their understanding of how these structures…
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Case Study: Can a Virus Cause Diabetes?
This case asks students to examine data on children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes after reading a short story about a young girl who was losing weight and feeling thirsty. The content looks at a possible connection between diabetes and infection by the coxsackie virus, a virus that is responsible for “hand, foot, and mouth”…
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Feedback Loops: Insulin and Glucagon
The Next Generation Science Standards includes feedback loops and homeostasis as a standard for life science. While homeostasis is a theme for many units in biology, feedback mechanisms are fairly specific. In fact, this is probably the most oddly specific topic found in NGSS. If you are trying to include it, most younger students…
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Article: The Body Farm
This article has been adapted to model standardized test questions students, where the article is divided into columns and each paragraph is labeled with a number. Students are required to find information in the text and analyze text structures. Readers are asked to used context clues to understand difficult vocabulary. Students must also make…
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Color the Bone Matrix
Anatomy students learn about the skeletal system, where they examine bones and how the bones fit together to make up an entire skeleton. In addition, some courses also explore bone tissue and how bone is formed and repaired. The bone matrix is the hard, supportive material that makes up most of a bone’s structure.…
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Color the Neuron and Neuroglia
Students can practice what they have learned about neurons with this simple coloring activity. The page shows features of the neuron, such as the axons and dendrites. They will also color the supporting cells of the matrix. There are no instructions, students must identify each of the types of glial cells: oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglial cells, ,…
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Investigation: Stride Length and Bone Lengths
This activity is intended to introduce students to spreadsheets while also reinforcing concepts learned in the unit on the skeletal system. While graphs may be easier to create using google sheets, student can still create graphs by hand using graph paper. Your class will need a set of meter sticks or rules to…
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What Is an Autopsy?
A short article about autopsies and medical examiners intended for students in anatomy. Students read a detailed description of an autopsy and answer questions that require close reading
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The Anatomy of the Kidney and Nephron
This coloring worksheet asks students to color the kidney to identify where structures like the medulla, cortex, renal vessels and ureters are located. Another image focuses on an individual nephron to identify the glomerulus, proximal and distal tubules, and the Loop of Henle. This worksheet is intended for advanced students of anatomy. Students will…
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Compare a Human and Chimpanzee Skeleton
This handout can be used in discussions on the evolution of bipedalism or in any unit on the skeletal system. Students label the bones of the skeleton and make comparisons between the forelimbs, hind limbs, and pelvis. I created this handout to compliment an evolutionary lesson and video from HHMI on the “Origin of Humans”…
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Investigation: What Factors Affect Lung Capacity
In this investigation, students use balloons and rulers to estimate the vital capacity of lungs using test subjects within the class. To perform the test, subjects take a deep breath and blow into a balloon. The diameter is measured and a graph is used to estimate the volume of air expelled based on the diameter…